VENTRAL HERNIA. 401 



ten inches, tapering to a somewhat rounded point. It was situated 

 directly in the right flank. It could easily be pushed back into the 

 belly, and appeared not in any way to interfere with her health or 

 capability for work. She was, however, noticed to be generally resting 

 upon the leg on that side. She having been prepared by venesection, 

 physic, and diet, and having satisfied myself that there was no adhesion 

 between the gut and integument, I pushed back the intestines, and, 

 grasping the sac with my right hand, I desired my assistant to pass a 

 strong waxed cord around the base of the sac, as near as possible to the 

 body, and to draw it as tight as he could, and secure it. She seemed to 

 suffer a good deal for a short time. In a few days, sloughing had loosened 

 the first, and rendered a second ligature necessary, and after that, a third. 

 In three weeks, the parts had healed, leaving very little appearance of 

 rupture, and of the opening which remained gradually diminished. She 

 was shortly afterwards put to post work, at which she continued to our 

 knowledge three years." 



The old operation with skewers is preferred by that 

 excellent practitioner, Mr. Tombs, V.S., Stratford-on- 

 Avon. " After condemning one operation it becomes me 

 to point out a safer/^ says Mr. Tombs. " A more scientific 

 one I cannot ; but I think I can a less dangerous one (than 

 suture). The operation I allude to is, I believe, attended 

 with invariable success.^^ — "The animal is cast upon his back. 

 The operator returns the bowel, and gathers in his hand all 

 the loose skin over, and for a considerable distance around, 

 the hernia. He then pushes three or four join skewers, about 

 14 inches long, transversely through this skin, and one or 

 two longitudinally, over the hernia, and a strong cobbler^s 

 end is tied under the skewers, and drawn tight. The 

 skewers are next twisted round with a pair of pincers ; 

 otherwise, the points would penetrate the sldn of the adjacent 

 parts of the abdomen, at the time the animal lies down. The 

 patient is then liberated, and kept short of food and water 

 for a few days." — 'Veterinarian,' vol. XTV., pp. 206-7. 



In confirmation of Mr. Tombs' Treatment, I quote 

 the following case of Mr. Holmes, V.S., Ash. Mr. Holmes 

 was called to attend a yearling colt, with ventral hernia. 

 The hernia was posterior to the umbilicus, and would have 

 filled a half pint measure. " I determined," says Mr. Holmes, 



II. 26 



